Smith apologised today for a 2010 email hed sent, saying a pregnant subpostmistresses prison sentence was brilliant. Prison sentence was brilliant. News. A moroccan Asylum Seeker on trial for the murder of a pensioner in hartlepool told police he was motivated by the conflict in gaza. 45 year old ahmed ali denies murdering 70 year old Terence Carney as well as the attempted murder of his housemate javid nouri last october. He says he carried out the attacks as an act of revenge for what he called israels killing of children in the palestinian conflict. He also accused. Hes also accused , accused. Hes also accused, rather of assaulting two female Police Officers whod interviewed him after his arrest. A change to family visa rules comes into force today as part of the governments plan to reduce immigration in its part of the home secretarys promise to transform the uks immigration system. Cut off unfair levels of migration and ensure those arriving here dont burden the taxpayer. The measure will see the minimum income for a family visa rise by more than £10,000 to £29,000. Thats an increase of more than 55, and by early 2025 that will increase once again two more times, rising to £38,700. And lastly, a new poll suggests rishi sunak and other conservatives may keep their seats in the next general election because of voter id confusion. A poll thats been released today by the Campaign Group best for britain found 16 of people didnt know theyd need a photo id to vote in upcoming general and local elections. That upcoming general and local elections. That means around 5 Million People could be turned away from polling stations , the away from polling stations, the poll says. The government passed the legislation in 2022, and the new rules came into force last yeah new rules came into force last year. Thats the news for the latest stories. Do sign up for gb news alerts. Scan that qr code on your screen right now , code on your screen right now, or go to gb news. Com alerts. Or go to gb news. Com alerts. Now, when britain voted to leave the European Union in june 2016, all those years ago, few people would have thought that nine years later, eu citizens were still automatically have the right to vote in british elections. But thats exactly elections. But thats exactly whats happening. Why well, because of changes to the elections act in 2022 of local Voting Rights for eu citizens, where they will not take effect until immediately after the may 2024 election. So tonight, im asking you a simple question. Is this right. 7 should millions of eu citizens be able to vote in the upcoming may elections. 7 the upcoming may elections . Email me farage at gbnews. Com or on ex tweet the hashtag farage on ex tweet the hashtag farage on gb news with your comment. Now lets turn to polling expert. The legend that is the professor of politics at the university of strathclyde, sir john curtice. Sirjohn, welcome john curtice. Sir john, welcome to farage on gb news. Great to see you there. Hi, christopher. Hi, christopher. Can you explain just for laymen, why are eu citizens voting in uk elections . So long after we left the European Union . Well, 7 well, its 7 well, its a . Well, its a perfectly good question though. Im going to disappoint you because im actually going to tell you that actually, for the most part, eu citizens are to keep their citizens are going to keep their rights to vote in elections even beyond these 2024 local elections. The what the government has decided to do is to allow anybody who was already resident in the uk up to the end of the transition period that is, to the end of 2020, to keep the Voting Rights they acquired as eu citizens. And i think that at least seems to be required, seems to regard it as maintaining fairness to the eu citizens who already had that right to vote. Yeah. What will what will end after these local elections is the right of those eu citizens who have come to the uk since , the end of the uk since, the end of the transition period, unless its, they come from spain, portugal, luxembourg or poland, because in the case of those four countries, we have reached a reciprocal agreement whereby british citizens will continue to have the right to vote in local elections there. And in return for that , the united return for that, the United Kingdom is going to retain the right, even for new migrants from spain, portugal, etc, to vote here. So, the number of people who are going to fall off the register. Well, at the moment its reckoned there are about 2 million eu citizens on the register. Thats about 5 of the register. Thats about 5 of the electorate able to vote in local elections, not in the general action, its reckoned only around 120, 130,000 of them will be taken off. As i understand it, probably the reason why its not already taken effect is that what returning officers are going to be required to do under the law is to spend three months trying to work out which of the eu citizens that are on the register will still have the right to be on the register, because they were here before the end of 2020, and i suspect , the end of 2020, and i suspect, therefore, what the government decided was we better not do that just before the local elections, because thats going to cause all sorts of mayhem. Although of course it will be something the returning officers will have to cope between will have to cope with between now next years local now and next years local elections, with, of course, the small matter a general small matter of a general election out the way. Goodness gracious, lets lets few questions then lets a few quick questions then. Affects local. It only affects local elections mayoral elections , elections and mayoral elections, not the general election. Is that right . Correct. And it also affects the pcc election. I should also say, however, it doesnt affect local elections in either scotland or the scotland or wales or the devolved elections because both in scotland and in wales , the in scotland and in wales, the devolved institutions have decided that anybody who is permanently resident in scotland or in wales, irrespective of their citizenship, will not now have the right to vote. And thats already been implemented in both parts of the uk and that includes Holyrood Elections to the Scottish Assembly and the senate. It means american senate. It means american citizens, brazilian citizens. So its long been the case that commonwealth citizens could vote here and that right will still remain. But if you live in scotland or wales, whether youre an eu or non eu , anybody youre an eu or non eu, anybody who is resident here will already has the right to vote in local elections. Local elections. Extraordinary, and do they have to be living here to vote or can you vote . Can you move to spain or wherever . And then vote by post . Well, thats right. Were talking were now talking about british citizens. British citizens , the right of british citizens, the right of british citizens, the right of british citizens to vote while living abroad. It actually has been abroad. It actually has been extended. There was a time limit that time limit is now being got rid of. And to that extent, at least so far as general elections are concerned, not local elections. The rights of british living abroad british citizens living abroad have extended , and eu have now been extended, and eu citizens go home they citizens who go home can they maintain a right to vote in the uk . Having left they once though no longer resident here, they will their right to vote. Will lose their right to vote. Is this at all its done to allow for an unwinding of the arrangement to being part of the European Union. But arrangement to being part of the European Union. But is it . Do you find it surprising or acceptable , or kind of a very acceptable, or kind of a very british way to get round a difficult situation . Well, i mean, i think you have to ask yourself, christopher. Well why is it that somebody who was born , in somebody who was born, in southern ontario and who comes to the uk to live can vote while somebody who comes from Northern Michigan cannot, somebody who comes from Northern Michigan cannot , the truth is michigan cannot, the truth is that our rules on voting are a result of historical accretion. We have long as i said earlier, allowed commonwealth citizens to vote. We have long allowed irish citizens to vote, then when we join the eu and the eu introduced local elections , introduced local elections, voting for eu citizens. We added that too, though only for local elections. At some point there is a argument for saying we ought to look at this sensibly and decide, well , ought to look at this sensibly and decide, well, is this only for british citizens, in which case we make it only for british citizens . Or are the scotland and wales have decided . Well, actually we allow anybody who is permanent resident here to vote. Those are at least two logical positions. What weve got at the moment is, frankly, a bit of a historical potpourri , but it historical potpourri, but it should sort itself out, is what youre hoping. It just seems extraordinary that with nine years after we leave the were still giving leave the eu, were still giving the rights to vote on elections in country to eu citizens. In this country to eu citizens. Yeah, sure. I mean, i entirely understand your point, but the truth is, you know, history vie keeps a long legacy and the right of eu citizens who are already here before we got out of the eu, that that right has been retained and will be retained even after these local elections. We can argue about it. But of course, the historical decision legacy that weve decided to retain. Just finally, sir john, i thank you for joining just finally, sir john, i thank you forjoining us just finally, sir john, i thank you for joining us tonight and thank you for giving us the chapter and verse for our viewers and listeners. Ill viewers and listeners. And ill be you say. Be responding to what you say. Is are we over generous . Are is it are we over generous . Are the countries as generous as we are about the right to vote . Well as ive already suggested, i scotland and wales are well as ive already suggested, i unique tland and wales are well as ive already suggested, i unique tlmoving wales are well as ive already suggested, i unique tlmoving towards re well as ive already suggested, i unique tlmoving towards the not unique in moving towards the results systems around a results based systems around a half or so of eu countries. Give non citizens the right to vote irrespective of whether theyre from the eu or not. And those countries actually also uk citizens living there will also be able to vote. So in other words, there is actually something of a move , certainly something of a move, certainly within europe towards a residency based qualification rather than a citizenship based one. Well, listen, sir john curtice, professor of politics at strathclyde university, thanks for joining us. Explaining that , to our explaining that, to our listeners and viewers tonight on farage, on gb news. Thank you. Well, today marks the first day of an Asylum Seeker standing trial at Teesside Crown court accused of the murder of a pensioner in hartlepool and the attempted murder of his housemate. This is the story we have covered at the time on this programme and gb News Reporter anna riley has been watching in court, watching the first day unfold and is there in middlesbrough for us now. Anna, whats latest . Whats the latest . Well, chris, a jury today heard at Teesside Crown court that moroccan Asylum Seeker, 45 year old ahmad ali, who is on trial for the murder of a pensioner and the attempted murder of his housemate, told police that he was motivated by the conflict in gaza and to further his desire that palestine would be free from the zionists. Now, the 45 year old denies murdering 70 year old terrence khan in hartlepool town centre, as well as the attempted murder of his housemate javid noun murder of his housemate javid nouri on sunday. The 15 of october last year. We heard from the prosecution that ali was living in Home Office Accommodation along with three other Asylum Seekers, one of these being javid noori, and they heard that the pair initially got on and that the defendant believed that nuri javid nuri was a muslim because of his cleanliness. But it was when mr noori started attending church and converting from the islam faith to christianity that things broke down between the two and that mr noori then went on to Contact Police because he felt threatened by the defendant. It was then heard that on the 15th of october, in the early hours of the morning , the early hours of the morning, that the defendant entered mr norris room as he lay sleeping and stabbed him multiple times while shouting allahu akbar, allahu akbar, meaning god is great. Another housemate contacted police and that 999 call was played to the jury in which the cries of allahu akbar were heard. Now mr nouri managed to fight off the defendant due to fight off the defendant due to his larger size and eject him from his room. Then we heard from his room. Then we heard from the prosecution then that the defendant went out into hartlepool and stabbed terrence khan to death as he was out on his morning walk. Police then managed to apprehend the defendant and we heard from body cam footage that was shown that were recorded him in the custody suite, which was played to the jury suite, which was played to the jury. He said, that he launched jury. He said, that he launched into a speech in arabic, and he said that for the people of gaza and allah willing, gaza would return to be an arab country. And that he then went on to praise allah and spoke of him being displeased with those who went astray. He spoke about palestine and said that jews had divided arabs, and said that his hands were injured. Otherwise he hands were injured. Otherwise he would have continued what he referred to as the raid. He then was next. The next day interviewed by police, and in this he made several statements saying that the murder of mr khan was an javid. Nouris attempted murder was in revenge for what he believed to be the killing of children by israel, and that he said they killed children and i killed an old man. When he said that two victims being lost was better than the whole of britain being lost, and said the attacks were for the sake of palestine so that we could live in peace. The interview concluded with the defendant swearing to allah that he ready shadow shadowy he was ready for shadow shadowy martyrdom, then the martyrdom, and then the prosecution on to say that he prosecution go on to say that he attacked two female Police Officers and that his own solicitor had to make a 999 call for assistance. This trial will continue for around four weeks and we will be providing the latest updates as that trial continues. Continues. Anna oreilly. Thank you. Now coming up, well be hearing from british businessman and former ukip donor arron banks, and he doesnt hold back on what he thinks will happen if nigel farage. Yes, that man again returns to political fold later this year. This is farage with me. Gb news. Now before the break, i asked you if you thought it was right that eu citizens would be able to vote at the upcoming may elections and heres what you had to say. Pam says only british voters should be allowed to vote in the uk. Im sure british citizens cannot vote in the eu. Patricia says. No, they should not be allowed to vote in the uk elections has no exceptions. Terry says eu citizens should absolutely not be allowed to vote. Exclamation mark this once great country is going right down the pan and sally says the worlds gone mad. Sally says the worlds gone mad. This cannot be right. No, no, we should refuse. Keep them coming should refuse. Keep them coming in now. Well be reading them out on our through the show now. Earlier today, i sat down for an explosive interview with arron banks, the former ukip donor and multi millionaire businessman. You can catch the full podcast from 6 am. Tomorrow on spotify, youtube, gb news website or wherever you get your podcasts. But for now, heres a sneak preview you wont want to miss it. Frankly, the polls have suggested that, so tory is going to be dozens come across, i think more than dozens tory mps just say that because, you know, theyre at a point where they cant win as a conservative, but they might have half a chance as a reform. When you say that you say that you think, yeah. Or have you do you know names that you cant say now . Or you can say, i know least 3 or 4 names of who are in talks now. Yeah. The people are talking about that. And i would expect this just to accelerate. But this is the farage factor that if he comes back and then they pick up another 2 or 3 points in the polls. So richard tice has done a good job. But i think the when you see 15 points in the polls, thats really the hope factor thats really the hope factor that nigels coming back. Right. But actually if he does come back and gets traction and you start to see, i think theres some polls out already saying that theyre ahead in with men in the midlands. And if you break it down, break it down. Theyre already leading in certain places. And i think the tory party have given up on they know going to so know theyre going to lose. So theyre trying focus on, you theyre trying to focus on, you know, re emergence or one nation soft tory, the mp for reigate, you know, was that kind of tory mp should be quite clear if nigel farage came to lead reform uk. I think ten, nigel farage came to lead reform uk. I think ten, i nigel farage came to lead reform uk. I think ten, i think ten uk. I think ten, i think ten tory mps will walk across the, the thing straight away and i think as well that thats part of his calculus. You know , mps of his calculus. You know, mps are in contact with him daily about this kind of thing and i think, you know, if he does come back, it will be on the back of something fairly spectacular , something fairly spectacular, fairly spectacular interview indeed. Now joining me now to discuss this is conservative holmes, Deputy Editor henry hill. Henry, good evening. Good evening. Good evening, did you hear aaron banks there . Henry hes saying there that the farage factor could pull ten tory mps across to reform uk if farage decides to take a leading role in the party, i did hear him. He. Weve heard this before. Of course, when nigel farage was leader of ukip, there was constant talk of defections and they got to in the end, the rest of them never materialised. Of them never materialised. Nigel farage is very good at sort of playing footsie with the conservative party and constantly encouraging speculation about defections. I think because he realises that his party, whichever party it is, is usually most effective when its spooking the conservatives into doing something. I think the challenge for reform is that whilst it is true that nigel would lift their performance and that that would potentially tempt some conservative mps, especially given the partys dire state in the polls. Reform, unlike ukip, the polls. Reform, unlike ukip, doesnt have a ground machine. Doesnt have a ground machine. It doesnt have an activist base. It has no track record of posting significant electoral victories. Its only ever managed to get a double digit vote share in two by elections, and so youre joining a much less, convincing ship than ukip was a few years ago. And given that ukip only managed to get two defections, it would be interesting to see how many tory mps really thought that they would be have a better chance of holding their seat as a reform candidate, without access to conservative money and potentially hardly any potentially with hardly any activists on the ground. Activists on the ground. Its all about data, isnt it . So we certainly found when i was covering ukip in previous jobs that they had no idea where their voters were, whereas the established parties do know where their voters and supporters are, and they can go and knock them off again and get the vote out. Yeah, absolutely. Right if you defect, you dont take your your with you. You also your data with you. You also probably take of your probably dont take many of your activists you know, activists with you. You know, those troops who most those Ground Troops who do most of even when ukip had of the work, even when ukip had lots of activists, it had a persistent problem that they were happy to leaflet. Were really happy to leaflet. They leaflet until they would leaflet until they dropped the but dropped dead in the street, but they didnt like canvassing. And canvassing you collect canvassing is how you collect that important voter that all important voter information. Think is information. So that i think is the challenge. If you if someone if arron banks or nigel farage says conservative mp is going says a conservative mp is going to have better chance of to have a better chance of holding seat, reform, to have a better chance of holdclaim seat, reform, to have a better chance of holdclaim is seat, reform, to have a better chance of holdclaim is really reform, to have a better chance of holdclaim is really thatform, to have a better chance of hold claim is really that the|, that claim is really that the reform brand can do all the work. And i dont think thats the case. What do you think to Darren Bankss contention there that 15 points that reform that the 15 points that reform uk last week, their highest uk hit last week, their highest i think in one of the polls. Theres a lot of he called it the hope factor in there in the sense that people are almost banking on a farage return. And banking on a farage return. And if farage ruled himself out and said , you know, i want reform or said, you know, i want reform or people who might vote reform to go with the tories and try and prevent a keir starmer supermajority at the election, then that number might fall down quite a lot, definitely quite a lot, it definitely might. If nigel went so far as to urge people not to vote reform. Although i dont think hell do that, but its certainly the case that nigel would would substantially increase reforms chances. One, because he is a stand out campaigner, a really rare political talent , but two, political talent, but two, because unlike richard tice, he knows the way that you win knows that the way that you win over wavering tories is that you . You butter them up, right. He always very good being he was always very good at being like, conservatives like, well, the conservatives i wish conservatives left me. Wish the conservatives left me. Whereas tice is always whereas richard tice is always we need to and destroy the we need to smash and destroy the conservative party, which which we need to smash and destroy the comuchitive party, which which we need to smash and destroy the co much less party, which which we need to smash and destroy the co much less effective. Ch which we need to smash and destroy the co much less effective. But hich we need to smash and destroy the co much less effective. But you is much less effective. But you are if farage actively are right. If farage actively anti endorsed reform and endorsed the conservatives, i dont think that would do him any favours. But certainly any favours. But it certainly wouldnt any favours. Wouldnt do reform any favours. Even if he just said well, or even if he just said im not going to do it, im going trump this yeah yeah. If that happened, the reform would suffer, partly because it would be. It would be a signal that didnt really a signal that he didnt really have that much confidence in have all that much confidence in reform. Given reform. Youd think that given the party polling as well as the party is polling as well as as well as is that he would as well as it is that he would be in fighting that be interested in fighting that battle britain. And if be interested in fighting that batinformed britain. And if be interested in fighting that batinformed position and if be interested in fighting that batinformed position as1d if his informed position as somebody who presumably knows reform that reform very well is that actually hed rather be actually hed much rather be overseas, does tell voters overseas, that does tell voters something important about the real party real state of the reform party and the tory reform uk and away from the tory reform uk psychodrama. The other parties, labour, are rubbing their hands, arent they . Yeah, absolutely. The tories yeah, absolutely. The tories are in a really invidious position now because they are they are losing votes to reform, but theyre also losing votes to the liberal democrats and to labouh the liberal democrats and to labour. And of course, the problem those vote, problem is that those vote, those parties the ones that those parties are the ones that will probably actually take tory seats. The constantly seats. So the cchq constantly needs it tacks to needs to think, if it tacks to the right to try and box out, reform uk on this or that issue is it going to save more votes and in the right places than it is going to potentially lose to moderate or wavering conservative mps in the south, in the midlands, in north wales and other battlegrounds. And other key battlegrounds. Do you think that the media, everyone is obsessing too much about farage . Hes got an overblown importance now in the political debate. Political debate. Potentially he has earned it, you know, he he, he he is the single most important factor in the delivery of brexit and that cant be taken away from him. But i think that ukip was so effective because ukip had won ask a referendum on the European Union. And nigel farage knew that to get that was to that the way to get that was to force was to pressure the conservatives into delivering it. Was very, very good. It. And he was very, very good. Ukip its most effective ukip was at its most effective when tories changing when the tories were changing policy deal with policy to try and deal with ukip. Is not in that ukip. Reform is not in that position. It doesnt have a single clear ask. Richard tice and the other leadership figures keep it clear that they keep making it clear that they hate conservative and hate the conservative party and theyre not interested in a deal theyre not interested in a deal. Means that they deal. And that means that they dont have ability to shape dont have that ability to shape the in the same and the debate in the same way. And also, ukip came second in a hundred seats in if we hundred seats in 2015. If we hadnt hundred seats in 2015. If we hadnt referendum the hadnt had the referendum on the european a town European Union, they had a town hall presence. Would have hall presence. They would have become a substantial parliamentary a minor parliamentary force. As a minor party. Has the party. Reform has reset the clock all work. Clock on all that work. Yeah. The branding is any yeah. And the branding is any good. Uk, i mean, the good. Reform uk, i mean, the shades. I going back to shades. I think going back to canada, reform party canada, i think the reform party but doesnt does it cut but its not doesnt does it cut through for you. Really. Too vague. Not really. Its too vague. Also reform uk is slightly corporate, you know the reform party in canada had was called the reform party. Reform uk sounds like a lobby group or something that. Its too Something Like that. Its too vague. I think problem for vague. I think the problem for reform is that their policies, when you actually drill down into , are the wrong into them, are in the wrong place, the big gap in the place, right . The big gap in the especially for as a vulnerability the vulnerability for the conservatives those voters vulnerability for the consthey ives those voters vulnerability for the consthey want those voters vulnerability for the consthey want over se voters vulnerability for the consthey want over in voters vulnerability for the consthey want over in 2019,; vulnerability for the consthey want over in 2019, its who they want over in 2019, its voters in the red wall and other areas who still left on or areas who still lean left on or who lean right on social who are lean right on social issues and law and order, but do actually lean left on the economy. And what reform offer instead really is they offer sort of reheated thatcherite economics because most of them are tory defectors. And then a load of sort of self indulgent, liberal democrat style constitutional reform , which is constitutional reform, which is very obviously about just helping reform win more seats. So their their offer is miscalculated. And i think one thing farage would do if he came in is he would give that a serious overhaul, because one thing hes very good at is finding hot button issues and putting his party on the right side of 1 2. Side of 1 or 2. Well, for now, farage is a presenter on gb news, but has made clear hell decide to what do in coming will . Sure. Do in coming weeks. Will . Sure. Well you back on henry well get you back on henry to discuss that. But henry hill from thank from conservativehome, thank you for tonight on farage for joining us tonight on farage on now, coming up as on gb news. Now, coming up as the crisis continues, the channel crisis continues, its emerged that £4. 3 its now emerged that £4. 3 billion of our aid budget is being spent here at home, helped to help with housing, refugees and Asylum Seekers, rather than being spent abroad, where its meant to be spent. I speak with doctor tamsin barton , the chief doctor tamsin barton, the chief commissioner of the independent commission for next. Now, new figures show that the uk houses so many Asylum Seekers that nearly a third of our aid budget is going, being spent on, people, Asylum Seekers living here and with. With me now is doctor tamsin barton from the independent commission for aid impact. Doctor barton. Why is it why is it that were that this country, our government is allowed to spend aid money here. So the uk, along with other donors that belong to the oecd think Tank Division payment assistance committee, is allowed to spend money which counts as humanitarian spend in the country that theyre paying from or other countries where refugees are housed, that thats allowed in the rules , but it allowed in the rules, but it isnt counted by everybody. In fact, the uk used not to count this until 2010, where it changed its position. But the reason its come to the fore now is because that spend has increased so much. So 28 a lot, isnt it . I mean, thats thats 4. 3 billion, as you say in your report. So its actually even more than last year. So we were expecting that it would go down a bit. Last year it was 3. 7 billion. And we were told that was because there were so many people coming from ukraine. There were people coming from afghanistan. And it can only be afghanistan. And it can only be charged the aid budget for charged to the aid budget for the year. So youd expect the first year. So youd expect the first year. So youd expect the to down if it was the cost to go down if it was about ukraine and afghanistan. But clearly that wasnt the main driver cost. What youre driver of the cost. What youre still seeing is high costs still seeing is very high costs of accommodation for Asylum Seekers refugees. Seekers and refugees. So the failure of the home office to deal with the small boats crisis possibly means that were spending aid money here when should be helping people when it should be helping people who poorer countries. Who need it in poorer countries. Well, its obviously much more that more equitable to provide that aid needed the most. Aid where its needed the most. So that it can make the most difference. But the other thing that we dont like and that we dont like about it, and why criticised as being why weve criticised it as being inefficient, is thinking about the taxpayer broadly, the taxpayer more broadly, not just relation the aid just in relation to the aid budget. In this strange budget. So in this strange setup, where they have to manage to hit this aid target, like landing the helicopter on the handkerchief, the Foreign Office 5 of gdp. Exactly. Theyre aiming at 0. 5. The way it works is that the Foreign Office is the spender and saver of last resort , and thats because it resort, and thats because it has the ability to move funds across financial and calendar years for various reasons. I could go into , and the other could go into, and the other departments dont, but that poses a massive problem if it means that the home office, which is mostly its about more than two thirds of these costs, is able to spend as much as it likes without any impact on its own budget. Now, thats completely against the normal way in which government, the home office has. No, doesnt really require no no, doesnt really require to the hotels bill. To bring down the hotels bill. Its not their bill. Its paid for by Foreign Office. For by the Foreign Office. How it ends up thats how it ends up working. Now you know, we working. Now we you know, we realise that home realise its not that the home office trying to waste money, office is trying to waste money, but not the right but its not the right incentives. Theyre feeling incentives. Theyre not feeling that pockets , that pain in their pockets, elses money. And you how whitehall and you know how whitehall works. Budget, governor. Works. Not my budget, governor. So that is something that clearly isnt a sensible clearly just isnt a sensible way manage a budget. Way to manage a budget. Thats where we feel that so thats where we feel that having a target managed in this way makes anyway. What way makes no sense. Anyway. What its led to is a situation where the incentives for the home office are more to respond in the short tum, so theres a lot of criticism. So they will try and find alternative sites to reduce costs, they not reduce costs, but they do not focus on long Term Solution to focus on a long Term Solution to get away from this crisis. Because for the long term, the way you can reduce these costs for the taxpayer in general is , for the taxpayer in general is, is that you need to have cheaper accommodation, which is more suhed accommodation, which is more suited to people need to be suited to people who need to be living the community, in living in the community, in flats and houses they flats and in houses like they used before covid, when they used to before covid, when they started put in hotels. Started being put in hotels. But right, though, that but is it right, though, that were spending aid money on poorer people who arriving poorer people who are arriving here overseas . So is it here from overseas . So is it better value for the taxpayer, given that, you know, 0. 5 of our of our National Income is given over to helping those much less fortunate than ourselves if theyre uk , thats fine, theyre in the uk, thats fine, because, you know, were helping them, wherever they are. Well, wed certainly agree with principle of with the principle of humanitarianism nobody humanitarianism that nobody should destitute without should be left destitute without the of shelter, food, the basics of shelter, food, etc. But spending the money this way is not the best use of taxpayers money, because in effect, what youre ending up doing more is subsidising hotels than actually providing humanitarian services. Now the target was 0. 7, wasnt it . And of course, in that period you mentioned there, it went up to about 20. 7 became law. I think in 2014. Its now down to 0. 5. Yes. When weve now gone past the end of the financial yeah past the end of the Financial Year, what was the amount of our of our gdp spent on aid in the last Financial Year . Well, just to be confusing, the oecd dac measures by calendar year, i know. Yes. And that doesnt always fit with the way budgets work. And that is why, in actual fact, in this year its ended up being 0. 58. So nearest to the financial so its nearest to the Financial Year the year that were year 2023, the year that were looking calendar year. The calendar year was 0. 58. It was 0. 58. And that is because the treasury, what they when they saw 2022 that the foreign saw in 2022 that the Foreign Office basically pause office basically had to pause its aid spending so it its entire aid spending so it didnt have money when the Pakistan Floods happened, for example, werent able example, and they werent able to pay where the where they legally had to pay, they realised that they needed to provide they provide some extra. So what they did provided an extra did was they provided an extra £25 billion over two financial £2. 5 billion over two Financial Years. £2. 5 billion over two Financial Years. Right. And the £2. 5 billion over two Financial Years. Right. And the way that years. Right. And the way that ended up. So they were thinking, well have a maximum of 0. 55. Is that a buffer . Then basically its a buffer. And actually we have suggested that if theyre going to have this target, its much better not to try and be so exact. That leads to more value for money. Which landing helicopter on a moving vessel moving moving vessel youll spend unnecessarily. Spend money on unnecessarily. You know youre one year you know youre going be overspending, going to be overspending, and then underspending then you could be underspending when you to be. When you need to be. Spending five eight is a huge overspend of it on the aid budget. Well, over the two years it probably would have because it was 0. 51 the previous over was 0. 51 in the previous over nought five. Nought point five. Its over point five. I mean, its over point five. I mean, its over point five. And for years running and for two years running its but then theres its over 0. 5. But then theres back question. Most back to the question. Most people think the people dont think the aid budget spent on people budget is being spent on people seeking refugees. Seeking asylum here or refugees. So got such so actually youve got such a huge chunk, 28. Thats where its being spent. Yeah. So we certainly take a position. Certainly dont take a position. You thats thats for you know, thats thats for politicians and ultimately people to decide people voting for them to decide where the money should be spent. Our is just to scrutinise ourjob is just to scrutinise how the aid budget is spent. Is it good value for money . Is it reaching the people that need it the most . And whats view on the and whats your view on the aid generally it has aid budget . Generally it has been hasnt it, been criticised, hasnt it, by some newspapers for spending money schemes. Money on frivolous schemes. Dont view well, we dont have a view as such general, but we such on it in general, but we review it, we provide reports maybe to the maybe eight a year to the International Development committee parliament. Committee in parliament. And what our most thorough what we do for our most thorough reviews, we score them. And to give sort of quick give you a sort of quick snapshot, a little less than snapshot, a little bit less than two we view as broadly two thirds, we view as broadly satisfactory. Thats thats the way give you the sort of way i can give you the sort of highest level picture. Third are not satisfactory. Third are not satisfactory. Third are not satisfactory. So a third are they have have very concerning features but some positives. Yes. So thats what we call an amber amber red score. We give it. And what weve done in this case actually we, we had a we had a review which didnt have a school because was what we call a because it was what we call a rapid review. But we have scored the up process. So this the follow up process. So this is a on from our review. We is a year on from our review. We gave as gave them recommendations as they of them, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, of them, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of them, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of of them, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of the 1em, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of the four which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of the four that h is unusual, but of the four that were left, we looked as hard as were left, we looked as hard as we could for improvements. There were left, we looked as hard as we c some r improvements. There were left, we looked as hard as we c some they rovements. There were left, we looked as hard as we c some they have nents. There were left, we looked as hard as we c some they have improvedere were some they have improved a little contract little bit. Their contract management, but ultimately they havent big things that havent done the big things that make a difference. Just going back to this, but just going back to this, the of the foreign aid the 28 of the foreign aid budget spent the uk, were budget spent in the uk, were not to get rapped on the not going to get rapped on the knuckles un. Knuckles by the un. Not as such, but the no, not as such, but the chair i was on an event with him recently, the chair of the oecd, dac, made some comments in dac, has made some comments in whats the peer review, whats called the peer review, which encouraging which is basically encouraging the look at why the government to look at why it is in the last year it was is in the uk. Last year it was twice as much as a percentage of the average of dac donors. Well, we think based on our report that theyre counting everything that theyre counting everything that you could possibly imagine, you could charge to the aid budget. Thats why its so much of it. Listen, doctor barton, its great to chat, to chat through the budget and understand the aid budget and understand why moneys spent why that moneys being spent here. For coming to here. Thank you for coming to the studio and joining us tonight. Now, my tonight. Thank you. Now, my what the is that the farage moment is that its been announced naval been announced that naval recruits need to be recruits no longer need to be able swim. Yes. You heard able to swim. Yes. You heard that right, folks. If recruits fail a swimming test, they simply stay in phase one while they then given lessons. At this rate , we cant be very far from rate, we cant be very far from pilots who cant fly planes and teachers that cant teach. Im not quite sure why the royal navy should stood to attention. Wearing inflatable armbands is really going to scare the enemy. Coming up, we looked ahead to one of the biggest races of the yeah one of the biggest races of the year, the grand national, with horse racing expert and the legend is derek tommo legend that is derek tommo thompson. See you shortly now for something a bit more light hearted today. So the start of the 2024 Aintree Grand National festival. With punters flocking to the famous racecourse near where i grew up in liverpool , racecourse near where i grew up in liverpool, ahead of the main event on saturday. However, following safety concerns , the following safety concerns, the historic race, which dates back to 1839, has been changed. Joining me to discuss the changes to the race and hopefully give me the winning tip for saturday is the legend himself, derek tom Moore Thompson tom moore, if i may. Good evening. Good evening. Chris, are you well . Chris, are you well . Im definitely well. Its im definitely well. Its great to see you again and thank you for joining great to see you again and thank you forjoining us great to see you again and thank you for joining us tonight. Great to see you again and thank you forjoining us tonight. Im you for joining us tonight. Im sorry, im replacing your friend nigel tonight, but very briefly , nigel tonight, but very briefly, as health and safety got at the great old grand national. No, it is still the greatest race in the world. It is unique. As you said, it started in 1839, and a horse called lottery won the first ever grand national. And thats what the grand national is. As you know, its national is. As you know, its a lottery. And there was a jockey called captain bucha. He fell off at the sixth fence. And thats why the sixth fence is called beeches brook. So its been going for hundreds of years. It is absolutely incredible. And yes, they have incredible. And yes, they have tweaked it a little bit. They used to be 60 odd runners. Years ago it was reduced to 40. Now its reduced to 34 runners. Theyve shortened the trip. Its not four and a half miles anymore. Itsjust not four and a half miles anymore. Its just over four and anymore. Its just over four and a quarter, and its going to be a quarter, and its going to be a standing start. So they cant come in you know cantering in and going fast. So and the stewards will say to the jockeys now dont go crazy going down the first fence. They always do that. But of course you know what its like if youre driving in a grand prix, you want to try and make the bend in first place. F worried f place. Worried about the are you worried about the changes are sensible . Changes or are they sensible . Are someone . We are you someone . Obviously, we must always when must mourn all always when horses in the race. But part horses die in the race. But part of the horses appeal is the dangeh of the horses appeal is the danger. But of course, no one wants to see deaths. Danger. But of course, no one warno,o see deaths. Danger. But of course, no one warno, theres. Eaths. Danger. But of course, no one warno, theres. Youi. Danger. But of course, no one warno, theres. You know, no, theres. You know, im the one, my love is horses the first one, my love is horses ive loved lived with horses all my so my love is horses. My life. So my love is horses. And i wouldnt do anything that they didnt want to and they didnt want to do. And horses. There were a couple of fallers today, but they were galloping alongside. In fact a loose horse won a race today. You know, it was lovely to see. Obviously couldnt win without the jockey. And the jockey was okay. So but these things happen. Yes, the old days happen. So yes, in the old days the fences were much, much more difficult, steeper and all difficult, much steeper and all that and it was much harder to win. But thats what gives the race that that extra. Now obviously the fence is a little bit lower. So in a sense thats making them safer. But at the same time then it allows the horses to run a bit faster. Having said that, the grounds going to be pretty testing. It was a lovely weather today at the track, but when we were the track, but then when we were coming it was starting to coming out it was starting to pour down. So the going is going to be all the full marks. The ground staff, theyve very ground staff, theyve done very well. The grounds to be well. The grounds going to be there going to be there aint going to be any course records this weekend. The 1990s, tom well back in the 1990s, tom moore used a fun run moore they used to be a fun run on the sunday after the grand national, when could run and national, when you could run and jump national, when you could run and jump jump over the fence jump over, jump over the fence yourself. Did that with yourself. And i did that with ladders and those fences are pretty painful, arent they . Because christmas because its all its, Christmas Tree jumping over tree that youre jumping over andifs tree that youre jumping over and its really can scrape your legs quite badly. I went round in a long time, let me tell you. Well done. Did did you win . No. It was, it was. Everyones wearing fancy dress. It was a Charity Fun Run over the over the national jumps. Well done chris, well done for doing it. You raise money for doing it. You raise money for charity. Thats what its about. Absolutely. But yeah, it will be the same, wont it . Therell still be the excitement. I mean, 34 runners a big field. Its 34 runners is a big field. Its not 60 as it was a few years ago. No, its still it makes it a little bit easier for us commentators. I remember when we were commentating, you have four commentators on grand commentators on the grand national we national and in my day we had peter bromley, michael seth smith, ohare , the seth smith, michael ohare, the great commentator. And great irish commentator. And as they for valentines, to they go for valentines, over to you , derek thompson. I hand you, derek thompson. And i hand it as the red cross liam it back as the red cross Liam Halligan back to peter bromley. And you know, there are stacks and and youve and stacks of horses and youve got out for got to watch out for the fallers. Youve to say which fallers. Youve got to say which horse is in front, which horse is behind. So its not an easy job. I tell the job. I tell you, for the commentators so but commentators on saturday. So but 34 plenty and its 34 runners is plenty and its round to 1. The field round about 5 to 1. The field and crack rambler, as you know is to win it. He won is favourite to win it. He won it last year. Won it for scotland derek fox, the jockey, has two grand nationals. Has won two grand nationals. Lucinda scottish lucinda russell, the scottish trainer, has won two grand nationals with carrick rambler. So whos to say the horse might win again . But the horse has gone the weights so its gone up in the weights so its going to take very good going to take a very good performance. Despite finishing third out in the third last time out in the cheltenham gold cup, youve given runners there, given us the top runners there, but the tom harwood tip . But whos the tom harwood tip . Obviously were not giving any here any viewers any advice here to any viewers or listeners, just, you or listeners, but just, you know, bit of fun. Know, a bit of fun. Well , id know, a bit of fun. Well, id love to know, a bit of fun. Well , id love to see well, id love to see a trainer called Christian Williams trainer because his his very young daughter betsy is recovering from leukaemia , and recovering from leukaemia, and itd be lovely if kittys light the horse he trains could win. And you know, the grand national has a habit of throwing up, lovely stories like that. You know, bob champion won it on aldaniti, you know, raised so much money for the Bob Champion Cancer trust. A couple of horses. Like james reavley, horses. I like james reavley, who was born in North Yorkshire but french champion but is the french champion jockey, over to ride jockey, comes over to ride a horse called roy marsh that was seventh year and hes much seventh last year and hes much better off at the weight. So on the handicap hes got a good chance. And theres an amateur friend of mine called David Maxwell rides. Aint maxwell who rides. Aint that a shame . Now theyre both run about 50 to 1 now. You never know. Anything could happen to know. Anything could happen to him. Theres a couple of long shots that could finish in the first five. Well, tom, i to hope be there on saturday too. And if i bump into you, ill buy you a pint. Its great to see you again. Thank you for joining its great to see you again. Thank you forjoining us its great to see you again. Thank you for joining us tonight on farage. I heard that hes going to buy pipe. Ill keep you to buy me a pipe. Ill keep you to that. Chris buy me a pipe. Ill keep you to tha great. Buy me a pipe. Ill keep you to tha great. And finally, a sweet great. And finally, a sweet ending to show tonight. Ending to the show tonight. Market Kevin Hilliard was market trader Kevin Hilliard was who ordered to close his who was ordered to close his picknmix in suffolk who was ordered to close his pickrdoing in suffolk who was ordered to close his pickrdoing business lk who was ordered to close his pickrdoing business 25 after doing for business 25 years, his stall saved years, has had his stall saved off local u turned off the local council, u turned on its plans to use the market to focus on Fresh Produce only. And joining me now is tory mp for suffolk coastal, Therese Coffey , who met kevin yesterday. Coffey, who met kevin yesterday. Therese is this a victory for common sense . I think so, came as a surprise to people that, this stall that had been there for a long time all of a sudden, was being told it wasnt, how can i put it sufficiently on message, for the people of suffolk to be in this stall . And this is a market thats been there for hundreds of years, its not quite as big as it used to be, but i was delighted this week to see, kevin back with his pick and mix back in, back in, situ. And theres a picture on screen now , whats your screen now, whats your favourite pick and mix . So is that some cola bottles or some some fangs in that bag there . Tyrese ive got a soft spot for liquorice, but, its, you know, l, liquorice, but, its, you know, i, i was just relieved that the town council, i think this had been delegated to people. Other people. And im glad that when they , the elected, that when they, the elected, politicians came together, that they realised that this was a step too far. And, you know, ultimately, its going to be about, freedom of choice for people. And, instead of necessarily just buying from the supermarkets or wherever. Yeah, supermarkets or wherever. Yeah, that they can go and literally pick what they want. You support your local market is a message, of course, is to Therese Coffey. How how was kevin . Was he upbeat . Was he joyful , yes. Upbeat . Was he joyful, yes. And i think he probably got a bit more trade than perhaps usual, because people were happy , to see him there, but like a lot of things, you know , shop lot of things, you know, shop local and this is something hes been doing for years , and, been doing for years, and, caused no offence to anybody, and delighted , that people can and delighted, that people can go and get their, their shrimp, shrimps or whatever their liquorice or whatever it is, their cola bottles as you say. Well, Therese Coffey, thank you for joining well, Therese Coffey, thank you forjoining us well, Therese Coffey, thank you for joining us tonight on farage a happy ending to farage with a happy ending to tonights program. You. Tonights program. Thank you. Now, next on gb news now, coming up next on gb news is, of course, of the is, of course, state of the nafion is, of course, state of the nation with Jacob Rees Mogg. Jacob me in the studio jacob is with me in the studio now. Jacob whats on your show tonight . What am i going be tonight . What am i going to be talking about . Theres talking about . Well, theres this the un who says this man at the un who says weve got two to the weve got two years to save the world, not going to world, and as were not going to save world in two years by save the world in two years by living in caves and not having any electricity and all of this, i should give up and i think we should give it up and just sensible and have cheap just be sensible and have cheap energy be competitive. Energy and be competitive. I think has blown the gas i think he has blown the gas fracking the green. The green fracking on the green. The green ideology. Well, fracking. Ideology. Yes. Well, fracking. Well is 0. 44 per well our energy is 0. 44 per kilowatt hour of electricity against 0. 17 in the us. And this is having a terrible effect on our economy. And the least well off in our society. So we need do anything that we can need to do anything that we can to get price down. And yes, to get the price down. And yes, id certainly include fracking in that. Were pushing for that in and were pushing for that in the manifesto. The tory manifesto. Well, sure the tory well, im not sure the tory manifesto is going to written manifesto is going to be written by seems a really by me, but it seems a really sensible were sensible policy when were sitting these cheap sitting on all these cheap energy. And the green agenda is about control and making about state control and making people become people poor. Its become absolute and years absolute hysteria. And two years to save world is just to save the world is just absurd. Its sort of looney stuff. stuff. You got a tip for have you got a tip for national, well, was hoping it national, well, i was hoping it might the ditcheat trainer, might be the ditcheat trainer, paul nicholls, hasnt got paul nicholls, but he hasnt got somebody ditcheat. Course, paul nicholls, but he hasnt got someliniy ditcheat. Course, paul nicholls, but he hasnt got somelin somerseteat. Course, paul nicholls, but he hasnt got somelin somerset and course, paul nicholls, but he hasnt got somelin somerset and all ourse, paul nicholls, but he hasnt got somelin somerset and all these, being in somerset and all the best things somerset. So im best things in somerset. So im going go for maximus going to go for iron maximus merely because love the name. Merely because i love the name. I know anything about it. I dont know anything about it. Well, check smog. You for thank you. Thank you for joining tonight. Nigel farage thank you. Thank you for joinwell tonight. Nigel farage thank you. Thank you for joinwell soon. Ght. Nigel farage thank you. Thank you for joinwell soon. Coming el farage thank you. Thank you for joinwell soon. Coming up,arage thank you. Thank you for joinwell soon. Coming up, state get well soon. Coming up, state of the nation with Jacob Rees Mogg. First the weather with shuttleworth. With annie shuttleworth. Things are heating looks like things are heating up. Sponsors of up. Boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. Good evening. Welcome to your latest gb news weather update. Well, it will be a cloudy start tomorrow but it should brighten up later on in the day. But for the far northwest we like to see fairly persistent rain. High pressure is starting to spread its influence into southern areas of the uk, but further north and west well see weather fronts push in through the next few days, and this evening much of rain will be restricted of the rain will be restricted to the far and west of to the far north and west of scotland. Also of scotland. Also parts of northwest england. Will northwest england. Cumbria will likely heavy bursts of likely see some heavy bursts of rain throughout evening. Rain throughout this evening. Elsewhere throughout the night, it should stay largely dry away from the coast and over the hills, its to be a hills, but its going to be a very and mild night. Very cloudy and mild night. Temperatures double temperatures again, double digits for minimum across digits by for a minimum across the far north east of scotland. It should be a fairly dry and bright start. Perhaps some areas in midlands well, but by in the midlands as well, but by and its going to and large its going to be a fairly cloudy start to the day. Itll likely stay quite cloudy and wet for of the day and wet for much of the day across parts of western scotland, england, across parts of western scotland, ireland england, across parts of western scotland, ireland well, land, across parts of western scotland,ireland well, buti, Northern Ireland as well, but elsewhere brighten up elsewhere it should brighten up and will feel fairly warm once again in that sunshine. We could again in that sunshine. We could see temperatures high 21 see temperatures as high as 21 degrees on friday. That band of rain becomes a more weak feature, but it will sink into more Northern Areas of wales more Northern Areas of wales more widely across northern england, perhaps into the midlands on in the day and midlands later on in the day and saturday. Behind it, it turns much unsettled. Some much more unsettled. Some showery of rain. Itll showery outbreaks of rain. Itll also turn considerably colder for those northwestern areas, but in the south it should remain largely dry and bright for weekend. For the weekend. A brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on gb news. Hello. Good evening. Its me, Jacob Rees Mogg on state of the nation. Tonight, the united nafions nation. Tonight, the United Nations climate chief has confidently declared we have two years to save the world. Well in that case, its too late. And i think thats our cue to abandon the green agenda. Meanwhile, as the green agenda. Meanwhile, as the home office is unable to confirm to gb news how many foreign criminals were deported last year, an afghan sex offender has won deportation offender has won a deportation case to risk of mob case owing to risk of mob violence in his home country. Another loss for the democratic will people. The mighty will of the people. The mighty bofis will of the people. The mighty Boris Johnson has bravely and boldly come out in defence of cigar smokers nanny state cigar smokers as the nanny state continues its attack, evoking one of our greatest statesmen , one of our greatest statesmen, winston churchill, who was known to chomp through ten cigars a day, plus state of the nations book club returns, this time with heir to one of europes with an heir to one of europes longest lasting dynasties, the habsburgs. Archduke edward von habsburg. He is the ambassador from hungary to the holy see, and hell be joining me to discuss his new book, the habsburg of the habsburg way. State of the nafion habsburg way. State of the nation starts now. Ill also be joined by my most intellectual panel, gb news senior political commentator nigel nelson, and the journalist and conservative peer paul goodman. As always, i want to hear from you. Its a crucial part of programme , email me. Part of the programme, email me. Mail margaret gbnews. Com. But now your favourite of now its your favourite part of the evening. Its the news of the evening. Its the news of the with polly middlehurst. The day with polly middlehurst. Jacob, thanks very much indeed, and good evening to you. Well, our top story from the newsroom tonight, a subpostmistress was wrongly subpostmistress who was wrongly jailed while she was pregnant has refused to accept the apology of a post Office Executive who sent an email in 2010 saying her conviction was brilliant. 2010 saying her conviction was brilliant. David 2010 saying her conviction was brilliant. David smith told the brilliant. David smith told the post Office Inquiry today that with hindsight, he post Office Inquiry today that with hindsight , he understood with hindsight, he understood the anger and upset, as well as the anger and upset, as well as the substantial distress hed caused to sima misra and her family, saying he was sorry for the way his email had been perceived and portrayed. Mrs. Misra was falsely accused of stealing £74,000 and had to give birth wearing a probation tag. She said i was eight weeks pregnant. They need to apologise to my youngest son. It was terrible. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted due to the flawed horizon it software. Flawed horizon it software. Today, the Prime Minister said his plan is working as new nhs figures showed hospital waiting lists in england had fallen for the fifth month in a row. Over 305,000 people have been waiting more than a year to start routine hospital treatment at the end of february, but thats down from just